MOSCOW, January 29, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --
Andrey Guryev, member of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO and CEO of
PhosAgro, one of the world's leading producers of phosphate-based
fertilizers, took part in the official opening ceremony of the
International Year of the Periodic Table held today at UNESCO
headquarters in Paris, which took
place with PhosAgro's support.
The UN proclaimed 2019 the International Year of the Periodic
Table, which was developed by the great Russian scientist Dmitry
Ivanovich Mendeleev 150 years ago. The initiative to hold the
International Year of the Periodic Table was launched by the
Mendeleev Russian Chemical Society, the Russian Academy of
Sciences, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the
Russian Federation and by
scientists from Russia and all
around the world. PhosAgro, one of UNESCO's long-standing partners
in the fields of science and sustainable development, was chosen by
the UN as the official sponsor of the initiative.
As part of UNESCO's International Year of the Periodic Table, a
large number of events are planned all around the world -
scientific conferences, thematic exhibitions, competitions for
young scientists and educational initiatives - the goal of which
are to strengthen international cooperation in science, technology
and innovation, as well as to interest young people in studying the
natural sciences.
The official Opening Ceremony to launch International Year of
the Periodic Table took place at UNESCO headquarters in
Paris and was attended by UNESCO
Director-General Audrey Azoulay,
Russia's Minister of Science and
Higher Education Mikhail Kotjukov, President of France's Académie des Sciences, Pierre Corvol
and PhosAgro CEO Andrey Guryev. As
part of the opening, a conference was held where some of the
world's leading scientists and young representatives of the future
of science shared their vision for the development of the natural
sciences and technology in the modern age.
UNESCO Director-General Azoulay said: "Science is a
public good and as such, must benefit all humanity. This conviction
is the driving force behind UNESCO's mandate. Science is a vehicle
for progress, provided that its benefits are distributed fairly and
that its applications are governed by ethical principles."
In his speech, PhosAgro CEO Andrey Guryev
noted: "We are proud and grateful for the fact that the UN chose
PhosAgro to be a partner of the International Year of the Periodic
Table. For me and my colleagues at PhosAgro, this is a great honour
and recognition of our solid long-term partnership with UNESCO in
the field of science and education.
"Eight years ago, during the International Year of Chemistry, it
was in this very room that the historic decision was taken to
launch the Green Chemistry for Life global programme, which has
been life-changing for dozens of young scientists from all around
the world. This project was the first joint step on the path of
long-term cooperation between PhosAgro and UNESCO, a path that now
includes not only science but also our concern for the environment
and the fight against hunger, two integral parts of the UN's
sustainable development goals. At the foundation of this system are
discoveries made by Dmitri Mendeleev 150 years ago.
"As one of the leading companies in the global fertilizer
industry, PhosAgro is delighted to be involved in the continuation
and development of the tremendous scientific heritage of this great
Russian scientist in an effort to solve global problems, primarily
to ensure food security in Russia
and in the world. PhosAgro's efficient and pure fertilizers are in
high demand in 100 countries throughout the world.
"Our work doesn't end once our fertilizers have been sold; we
share our knowledge and experience with consumers to ensure that
our fertilizers are used in the most efficient way possible. We are
responsible for the quality, safety and environmental friendliness
of our products, which is why we devote significant resources to
innovation and scientific developments.
"PhosAgro is also home to one of the world's leading specialised
research institutes for fertilizers and agrochemicals and the only
institution of its kind in Russia,
which de facto created the mineral fertilizer industry in our
country and is now developing innovations that are enabling Russian
fertilizer producers to successfully compete in every corner of the
world. In addition, we also cooperate with the Russian Academy of
Sciences and leading scientific institutions, and we invest at
least 5% of our revenue into research and development.
"We are also confident that the events that will take place to
mark Mendeleev's discovery during the International Year of the
Periodic Table will be extremely beneficial for the further
development of technologies in the fields of green chemistry,
sustainable development and food security. And, of course, we
expect this year to introduce us to many new names and discoveries
that will benefit humanity."
SOURCE PhosAgro